History of The Beatles - Реферат

In February, 2000, "a Garland for Linda" was released; it features new choral works by the nine contemporary British composers: John Tavener, Michael Berkeley, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Giles Swayne, John Rutter, Roxanna Panufnik, David Matthews, Judith Bingham and Sir Paul McCartney and "Silence and Music" originally composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams for "A Garland for the Queen," in which ten leading British composers contributed new works for a musical celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The inspiration for "a Garland for Linda" was certainly "A Garland for the Queen"; the raison dieter for the disc is to commemorate the life of Linda McCartney and to promote The Garland Appeal to raise money for non-animal-tested cancer research and British music. Incidentally, Sir Paul McCartney's own piece for "a Garland for Linda" is entitled "Nova."

On August 21, 2000, "Liverpool Sound Collage" was released in the UK. McCartney created the piece at the request of Peter Blake, the artist who helped designed the Beatles' memorable cover for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band," as the soundtrack for his show "About Collage," at Liverpool's Tate Gallery. Along with Super Furry Animals, producer/musician Youth also collaborated with McCartney on the project. But what's most likely to get people's attention was actually the inclusion of studio outtake clips from recordings McCartney made with The Beatles between 1965 and 1969. "Liverpool Sound Collage" was nominated for a Grammy as "Best Alternative Music Album."

On 19 March, 2001, Paul McCartney published a book of poetry, called "Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999." It is McCartney's first anthology of poetry and lyrics. The book contains more than 100 poems written between 1965 and 1999 as well as some of his best-known song lyrics. "Blackbird Singing: Poems and Lyrics 1965-1999" has sold more than 55,000 copies in the UK and USA.

In May 2001, Paul McCartney released "WINGSPAN - Hits and History -," the 40-song collection from Paul McCartney and Wings. "Wingspan" is the soundtrack of a two-hour film of the same title that is a television documentary about the formation and history of the band Wings. The double-album not only made its debut at No.2 on the Billboard album charts as of May 26, 2001, but marked the fastest-selling release of the McCartney post-Beatles era; it went Gold, Platinum and double Platinum, earning Paul his 21st gold record. Later that year, he released "Driving Rain," the first studio album of new songs from Paul McCartney since 1997's "Flaming Pie." Though the album peaked at No.26 on the Billboard album charts, "Driving Rain" was certified gold on 29 April, 2002.

On April 1st, 2002, Paul McCartney kicked off DRIVING USA, a two-month concert tour of America and his first in almost 10 years. Following his second marriage to Heather Mills on June 11th, 2002, Paul McCartney returned to North America for further 23 concerts on the Back In The U.S. tour in late September and October. Following the second leg of the U.S. tour, Paul McCartney performed in November in Mexico City, Tokyo and, for the first time in Paul's career, Osaka. The "DRIVING USA" tour was captured on the 2002 live double-album "Back In The U.S. - Live 2002." The live double-album made its debut at No.8 on the Billboard album charts, eventually going platinum in the US. According to concert trade publication Pollstar, by the way, Paul McCartney is the runaway winner for biggest tour of the year. As Paul's tour grossed $103.3 million in 2002, Paul's tour now ranks as the all-time fourth biggest earner in the US and Canada, behind the Rolling Stones, U2 and Pink Floyd.

On March 25th, 2003, Paul McCartney kicked off the "Back in the World" tour, a three-month UK and European tour and his first in 10 years since his New World Tour of 1993. It coincided with the release on March 17th of the live double-album "Back in the World - Live" as a proper souvenir of the European tour. After touring through Europe, including Russia, Paul McCartney capped the tour with a hometown concert at Liverpool on June 1st, 2003.

On May 25th, 2004, Paul McCartney kicked off the all-stadium "04 Summer Tour." It was highlighted with 7 first-time performance visits as well as 5 concerts in cities that haven't rocked with him since 1989's "Get Back World Tour" or 1993's "New World Tour". After touring throughout Europe, including a special performance in St. Petersburg's Palace Square, Paul McCartney concluded the tour with a special appearance at The Glastonbury Festival on June 26th, 2004. That same year he released a selection of his Animated Films called "Paul McCartney: The Music And Animation Collection." On September 20, 2004, he released his first single for children in 20 years, "Tropic Island Hum," the title track of a new children's animation film featured on the collection. Later that year, he published a new book called "EACH ONE BELIEVING: ON STAGE, OFF STAGE AND BACKSTAGE", an account of life on the road with Paul McCartney during his recent Word Tour during which he played to over two million people - his most successful tour since The Beatles.

Anyway, I recommend "All the Best" or "WINGSPAN - Hits and History -" as a good introduction to Paul McCartney. Check it out!

George Harrison

The youngest of four children, George was born February 25, 1943 at 12:10 a.m. to Harold and Louise. George has a sister, Louise, and two brothers, Harold and Peter. The Harrisons lived at 12 Arnold Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool 15 until 1949 when the family moved to 25 Upton Green, near, Liverpool.

George began his education at Dove dale Primary. In September 1954, George began attending the Liverpool Institute where Paul McCartney was already a student. They often met on the bus going home and soon became friends.

Influenced by Carl Perkins, Lonnie Donegan and others, by age 13 George had developed a strong interest in music. His wonderfully supportive mother bought George a used guitar and encouraged him when he became frustrated learning to play the more difficult chords. Long before Paul met John Lennon, George and Paul spent many an afternoon going through George's chord manual together. In 1956, George, his brother and friends performed once as the Rebels. After that, George sat in on gigs with other groups, and worked Saturday mornings in a butcher shop. One of the butcher's assistants was in a group with whom George also played. Through this group, George met Pete Best, future drummer for the Beatles.

At this point, history gets a little shaky with contradictory accounts. Possibly upon Paul's suggestion, George saw the Quarrymen perform, and met John backstage. With the hope of joining the Quarrymen, George impressed John and Paul, who by now was also a member of the group, with his rendition of "Raunchy." John was unsure at first, George being three years younger than him. But George's ever-growing knowledge of chords inspired John and Paul's songwriting. By early 1958, in part possibly to irritate his Aunt Mimi who saw George as a bad influence, John relented and George became lead guitarist for the Quarrymen.

By August 1962, Pete Best was out, Ringo Starr was in, and the Beatles were born.

On February 7, 1964, the Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- arrived in America. Their music exhilarated while their wit charmed. George's often unsmiling, brooding demeanor earned him the nickname The Quiet One.

On March 2, 1964, on the set of "A Hard Day's Night," George met 19-year-old model, Patricia Anne Boyd. Though she initially rejected him, eventually they start dating. Just before Christmas of 1965, Patti accepted George's proposal of marriage, and they married on January 21, 1966.